Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-08-02
PACIFIC COAST.
WOODLAND STIRRED DY A SOCIAL
SENSATION.
Fires in all Directions-Wheat and
Fruit Notes.-The Vitriol
Throwing Case.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE sEcoRD-uN1os.I
THE RAILROAD INQUIRY.
The Courts to Determine the Extent OF
the CommissiOn's Power

inc ROVER.
SAN FRANCISCO, August 1st.-The investiga-
ton of the affairs of the Central Pacific Com
pany by the Federal Commiss on, was continued
to-day. Daniel Z. Yost, formerly Private Secre-
tary to Governor st inford testified that the last
he saw of the books of the Contract and FL
nance Company was in 1873, when they were
packed, with other books and papers. to be
shipped to San Francisco. at the time the head
quarters of the Central Pacific road were re-
moved to the Bay. The witness said he had
never paid out any money by direction of Sena-
tor Stanford for the purpose of influencing leg
islation, but he had often attended the sessions
of the Legislature with Stanford and appeare1
with him before the committees which were
examining into railroad matters. Stubbs was
also present and sometimes Goodman who were
called on to testify a6 to the affairs of their de-
partments. Sometimes Judge Sanderson Robert
Harrison and H. w. Brown appeared to repre-
sent the company, but he knew of DO one who
represented the Central Pacific as lobbyist. Wit
ness said that Senator Stanford frequently gave
passes, while witness was his Private Secretary
70 employees and sometimes to members of the
Legislature, members of Congress, etc.
+. ). Douty, Secretary of the Western De-
velOpment Company, resumed the witness
stand. He stated that acting under advice of
counsel he had not brought the minute books
OF said company with him. Mr. Douty was
accompanied by Thos. l. Bergin, his attorney,
and under his advice stated that the books
could be inspected at the Central Pacific Offices
so Tar as the transactions of that company were
concerned, but not as to facts relating to the
Western Development Company. AT er asking
the witness various questions looking to pro-
curing an unlimited inspection of the minute
books, and being refused, the Commission held
an executive session which lasted two hours.
During this time a formal complaint was die
tated TO their official stenographer, the outline
of which was to be submitted to the United
District Attorney for his approval. The COM
plaint was transcribed during the evening and
viii be formally filed tomorrow.
Mr.. Bergin stated that the position taken by the
railroad company was a simple one They main
taiRed that the jurisdiction of the Commission
did not extend beyond the affairs of the Central
Pacific, and the company could not be forced to
produce books and documents which did not
relate 10 that company.
Commissioner Littler said that the Commits
sion had anticipated this refusal, and were pre-
pared 10 meet it. They knew, he said that the
Court had the power 10 force the company to
produce the books. He did not know what the
Court would do, but he did know what it could
do.
This hitch in the investigation will not inter-
fere with the further questioning of Senator
Stanford. His examination will be resumed at
10 o'clock tomorrow.
1t is rumoIed that the railroad authorities, if
the Federal Court decides that they must show
the books of concomitant companies will con-
test the legality of the Commission, averring
that the Commission, composed as it is of non
members of Congress, can have no legal exist
ence; that Congress has no right to delegate its
power to outsiders, even though appointed by
the President